literature
Science fiction's most popular literary writers from Isaac Asimov to Stephen King and Frank Herbert, and the rising stars of today.
An Essay on 'Feed'
The problem of today is one that can never be solved completely. A man will live and learn from his elders. Grow old teach the young and die. So the problem is not knowledge of the past, because we record that, but insight into patterns that take longer than a generation. A problem that goes beyond the short span of a human consciousness.
By Dingus Lord7 years ago in Futurism
The Abjuration of the Astronomer
You are quiet. Softer than usual—the edge is there, but your eyes sag with exhaustion. You’ve none of your usual confidence, none of the venom that has vanquished so many foolhardy critics. When you enter your new temporary residence (though a voice in my head says prison instead), you do it in shambles. You only brought one bag, and I can see the papers and garments stuffed hastily inside as you set it on the table, head bent, sighing heavily. You walk to the tiny window over the empty writing desk.
By Jay Tilden8 years ago in Futurism
Alex the Inventor - Chapter 11 (Pt. 2)
Chapters 1 - 11 can be read at: Deep Sky Stories & Illustrations Chapter 11 (Part 2) - In Deep Trouble Sunday passed slowly for Dart the Dragonfly, lying as still as death at the bottom of the slowly sinking cargo trailer. Where was everybody, he wondered with a quizzical twist of his soccer-ball head. Night fell and still no one came. Could they have forgotten about him? With power loss now approaching a grave threshold, the Guardian reasoned that his situation was now grim. Therefore, Dart followed logical survival protocols and stepped down the rest of his dwindling resources to the bare minimum. The flashing circuits within his delicate brain unit dimmed down to a faint gaslight flicker so that only the core of his cerebral remained active. The weak emergency beacon continued pinging, but only barely so. The Dragonfly clung to existence by a thin thread and lay as stiff and still as the smaller cadavers all around him. Just before sinking into the coma-like power-saver mode though, Dart sensed something ominous happening around him. Was that only the soft breeze sighing through the mouth of the cold metal cave he was trapped in... or did it sound more like a faint, dry chuckle of satisfaction? Was there a rustling of dry autumn leaves near the cave mouth, or did something else begin to move musty, clicking little legs? Slowly. Delicately. The trap had been sprung well. The already narrow tunnel back to his world constricted further down toward nothingness and cold shadows closed closer round the snared Dragonfly, seeking to smoother him forever.
By G.F. Brynn8 years ago in Futurism
Alex The Inventor - Chapter 11 (Pt.1)
Chapters 1 - 10 can be read at: Deep Sky Stories & Illustrations Chapter 11 (Part 1) - The Enemy Gathers Casting back to the previous day of that fateful weekend, as Dr. Kirstt was arriving at Alex's quiet town, not far away, another nightmare creature peered around the sharp corner from its world into Alex's as well. The Weaver Spider from beyond our sky slowly unfolded its one large Cyclops eye.
By G.F. Brynn8 years ago in Futurism
Alex The Inventor - Chapter 10 (Pt. 2)
Chapters 1 - 10 can be read at: Deep Sky Stories & Illustrations Chapter 10 (Part 2) - A Dream of Nethlins... On each and every low mossy mound or hillock which dotted the land all around him Alex saw Martians. He could tell who they were by their tanned complexion which was slightly puffed out as an adaptation which enabled them to breathe better through pores of their skin. Their faces were ruddy from living in a colder, windswept environment and many of them were dressed in fur-trimmed buckskins which offered better warmth.
By G.F. Brynn8 years ago in Futurism
Eradicate - Part 1
The body was not disturbed for what looked like a week. The fingers and arms appeared black while oozing an orange fluid. Preliminary observations suggest a male in his mid to upper 50s. There appears to be lacerations in the abdominal region suggestive of an animal attack. Makes sense based on his clothing and the nature of where he was found, rural Idaho. The appendages feel like jelly and begin to tear, revealing more of the orange fluid along with a black discharge mixed in. Collection of the discharge was taken for further analysis. Interesting how the consistency of the body feels. Like that of a sea slug when touched in a tide pool. The soft slimy texture of the skin was otherworldly. As if he was inside of an animal’s stomach and then regurgitated. Notable as well is the smell of the individual, different from other bodies in this condition. The smell represents a combination of sourness and sweetness like that of a low-quality men’s cologne.
By Syzygy Stories8 years ago in Futurism
The Survivors: Chapter Two
As the sun began to set, I started to shove things into my bag. My heart raced as I grabbed as much off the shelves as I could. I packed our first aid supplies, our remaining food and water, a flashlight, as well as some fire starting materials. I paused for a second to take a deep breath before continuing to pack. “Everything is going to be okay,” I repeated to myself. Deep breath in, slow exhale. I stopped putting things in my bag to help Emm pack hers.
By Katie Moore8 years ago in Futurism
The Survivors
It’s been about twenty-eight days since the first person started showing signs; now over half of the people in the town are dead and whoever is still alive is already sick. No one knows how it started and we sure as hell don't know when it’s going to end, IF it’s going to end. The only thing we know for sure is that our town is quarantined. My dad has moved us into a bunker that he built next to the house. I have no clue how he built this without us knowing, but I have a feeling that this room is what’s going to save our lives. Dad worked in the labs for as long as I can remember. He would go to work early and come back late. But weeks before the outbreak, he changed. He sat in his office and only left for work. I never thought of my dad as a paranoid man, but obviously he had a reason to be. He had inside knowledge and was sure something was going to happen. Now I realize he just wanted to keep us safe, and he knew something was coming before it even started.
By Katie Moore8 years ago in Futurism
Alex The Inventor - Chapter 10 (Pt.1)
Chapters 1 - 9 can be read at: Deep Sky Stories & Illustrations Chapter 10 (Part 1) - A Vital Dream-Vision Stepping back a few hours in time and following Big Ben's thoughts of his young Master, one would come upon a large brick and glass building in the heart of Delta-Town that was very unlike Alex's cozy old house. Dawn broke over Delta Hospital much too soon for the boy in the white-sheeted bed. Everything smelled too clean and the blanket on the bed felt too thin and cool on him for it to belong to his bed. The blankets he was used to were woolly and heavy on top and all around him like a small, warm cave. No, this bed didn't feel like his at all, it was too stiff and crinkly.
By G.F. Brynn8 years ago in Futurism
